Dave Thomas said:
I don't usually think of PT as a porn site - but, you do know what those iguanas are doing, right? ;-)
Dave
They're eating algae.
If they were doing it, one would be on top.
David G · 16 March 2009
They eat algae in the sea. Head contact is important to mating rituals. They're about to do it, but they're just getting started. So, which one is the male and which 4 features identify the male in this pic? They occur on which island? Espanola or Isabella? Other suggestions? Up too late! David
As I understand it, females (and younger iguanas) mostly feed on land - being much smaller, they can't retain heat as well. Here's an image of some marine iguanas actually doing it: http://bss.sfsu.edu/holzman/courses/Fall99Projects/miguana.htm
David G said:
So, which one is the male and which 4 features identify the male in this pic? They occur on which island? Espanola or Isabella? Other suggestions? Up too late! David
The male is at left. He can be identified by the much larger fringes on his head and back.
I've seen them on Espanola, not sure about isabella.
Paul · 17 March 2009
That's so cute!
Ian · 17 March 2009
Why would they recruit iguanas into the Marines? Is this where the term "leathernecks" comes from?
stevaroni · 17 March 2009
So, which one is the male
When I was younger, I used to scuba dive a lot in Florida, and I'd often find myself in swarms of moon jellies.
I always used to think to myself "Jeeze, they breed like rabbits, I wonder how you tell boy jellies from girl jellies? I suppose it works as long as they can tell the difference".
Henry J · 17 March 2009
But their still just lizards!!111!!1eleventy!!
(Yeah, somebody had to say that. :D )
KP · 17 March 2009
That brings flashbacks to Malcolm Gordon's Ecological Physiology of Marine Vertebrates class at UCLA. "Textbook" example of osmoregulatory adaptation in the marine environment (which is really just an extreme example of the desert environment).
Yes, Henry J, I suppose that our creationist friends will argue that because their limbs aren't flippers means that the entire theory of evolution is false... :)
John Kwok · 17 March 2009
Dave -
It's either some kind of territorial dispute, fighting over a potential mate, or the very act itself. Or it just be a random encounter. Can't really tell from this photograph. But, in light of the fact that it is the Darwin Year, it is an appropriate image to have posted here at PT nonetheless.
John
wamba · 17 March 2009
Gojira!
Daniel Ross · 17 March 2009
stevaroni said:
So, which one is the male
When I was younger, I used to scuba dive a lot in Florida, and I'd often find myself in swarms of moon jellies.
I always used to think to myself "Jeeze, they breed like rabbits, I wonder how you tell boy jellies from girl jellies? I suppose it works as long as they can tell the difference".
Gross anthropomorphization. You only need to be able to tell if, in fact, you actually need to mate to reproduce. Actually, many/most marine species really can't tell and don't properly mate. Both sexes get together in large schools and release the eggs and sperm in great big clouds. It all mixes together.
13 Comments
Dave Thomas · 16 March 2009
I don't usually think of PT as a porn site - but, you do know what those iguanas are doing, right? ;-)
Dave
Stanton · 16 March 2009
David G · 16 March 2009
They eat algae in the sea. Head contact is important to mating rituals. They're about to do it, but they're just getting started. So, which one is the male and which 4 features identify the male in this pic? They occur on which island? Espanola or Isabella? Other suggestions? Up too late! David
Moth Eyes · 17 March 2009
As I understand it, females (and younger iguanas) mostly feed on land - being much smaller, they can't retain heat as well. Here's an image of some marine iguanas actually doing it: http://bss.sfsu.edu/holzman/courses/Fall99Projects/miguana.htm
Philip Downey · 17 March 2009
Paul · 17 March 2009
That's so cute!
Ian · 17 March 2009
Why would they recruit iguanas into the Marines? Is this where the term "leathernecks" comes from?
stevaroni · 17 March 2009
Henry J · 17 March 2009
But their still just lizards!!111!!1eleventy!!
(Yeah, somebody had to say that. :D )
KP · 17 March 2009
That brings flashbacks to Malcolm Gordon's Ecological Physiology of Marine Vertebrates class at UCLA. "Textbook" example of osmoregulatory adaptation in the marine environment (which is really just an extreme example of the desert environment).
Yes, Henry J, I suppose that our creationist friends will argue that because their limbs aren't flippers means that the entire theory of evolution is false... :)
John Kwok · 17 March 2009
Dave -
It's either some kind of territorial dispute, fighting over a potential mate, or the very act itself. Or it just be a random encounter. Can't really tell from this photograph. But, in light of the fact that it is the Darwin Year, it is an appropriate image to have posted here at PT nonetheless.
John
wamba · 17 March 2009
Gojira!
Daniel Ross · 17 March 2009